The vanity of this mortal life, or, Of man, considered only in his present…

But they that delight to see this world rolling or fixed, as may most serve their private purposes; and have a perpetual quarrel ⟨p. 116⟩with it, while it looks not kindly upon them. Their life is bound up in it, and their pretences to another, are but the languid faint notions of what they never heartily believe nor desire.

Upon the whole matter, Nothing is more agreeable to this great expectation, than a steady restraint, and moderation of our passions towards things without us▪ That is, all the several sorts of external objects and affairs, that so variously invite, and tempt our observation and regard in this our present state.

2. I next add: A further congruity, if we pretend to this expectation, is, That we be not over-much taken up in minding the body. For this looks like a design (or that inconsistent wish) to have our present state perpetuated; And that the thoughts are remote from us of a change for a better. As if notwithstanding all ⟨p. 117⟩that the Divine Goodness hath promised concerning the future inheritance of the free and heaven-born Seed, This did still lye nearest our hearts, O that Ishmael might live in thy sight! And that the belief did miserably languish with us of any better portion than what our eyes do already behold: Together with the apprehension of a spiritual being in us, to be ripened into a complete and actual capacity of enjoying what is better. It is true, that all the exorbitant workings of those meaner and ignoble passions that are moved by objects and occasions without, and foreign to us, have the body for their first and last, their spring and source, their centre and end. But thence it becomes the more proper, and requisite, that we draw nearer this their seat and centre, and strike at the root; and, in killing that inordinate love and solicitude for the body, mortify them all at once.